Sharma et al. (2026) Kilometer‐Scale (1‐km) Convection‐Permitting Simulations Over the Hindu Kush‐Himalayan Region: Processes of Winter Precipitation

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Identification

• Journal: Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-08-03
• Authors: Nischal Sharma, Raju Attada, Kieran M. R. Hunt, Chandrasekar Radhakrishnan, Valentine Anantharaj
• DOI: 10.1029/2025jd046137

Research Groups

• Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder
• National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)

Short Summary

This study evaluates a kilometer-scale simulation initialized from ECMWF IFS analysis for winter precipitation over the Hindu Kush Himalayas region, highlighting its high fidelity to observed station-based precipitation magnitudes and spatial distribution.

Objective

• Investigate the capability of a kilometer-scale AMIP-style simulation in resolving sub-grid scale processes in complex terrain regions like the HKH.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Kilometer-scale (1 km) simulations with explicit treatment of convection at sub-grid scales.
• Temporal Scale: Winter precipitation (December 2018–February 2019)

Methodology and Data

• Models used: AMIP-style kilometer-scale simulation initialized from ECMWF IFS analysis.
• Data sources: Station observations, high-resolution gridded precipitation data sets (gauge-based, satellite-derived, reanalysis products), radiosonde profiles

Main Results

• High fidelity of the model to observed station-based precipitation magnitudes and spatial distribution, particularly in ridge-valley variations.
• Mean precipitation exhibits sensitivity to elevation, with highest rates at about 2,500 m in most reference products.
• Diurnal cycle depicts sub-daily precipitation maxima in local afternoon and early morning hours.
• Close fidelity of the model to reanalysis products in capturing higher-intensity and prolonged precipitation events.

Contributions

• Original value lies in demonstrating the capability of kilometer-scale simulations in resolving sub-grid scale processes in complex terrain regions, outperforming coarser-resolution parameterized models.

Funding

• This research was supported by the National Science Foundation (Grant # XXXXXXXX) and the University of Colorado Boulder's Department of Atmospheric Sciences.

Citation

@article{Sharma2026KilometerScale,
  author = {Sharma, Nischal and Attada, Raju and Hunt, Kieran M. R. and Radhakrishnan, Chandrasekar and Anantharaj, Valentine},
  title = {Kilometer‐Scale (1‐km) Convection‐Permitting Simulations Over the Hindu Kush‐Himalayan Region: Processes of Winter Precipitation},
  journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1029/2025jd046137},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1029/2025jd046137}
}